In 1991, the year she released her first album Memories of a Colour, Nordenstam played at the Swedish parliament as part of the Year of Jazz. Her early work, including her second album, And She Closed Her Eyes, released in 1994, was significantly jazz-influenced, with only subtle elements of alternative rock. With 1997's Dynamite she started down a darker, more experimental path; most of the album was filled with processed, distorted electric guitars and unusual beats, but careful listening revealed her unique song-writing abilities.
An album of covers, People Are Strange, followed before she returned in 2001 with This Is Stina Nordenstam, an album with shorter songs and a more pop-like feel; ex-Suede vocalist Brett Anderson featured on two tracks. In 2003 Nordenstam appeared in a duet with Jonas Bjerre from Mew on Mew's third album Frengers, with a song called "Her Voice Is beyond Her Years". Between 2003 and 2004 she made the Swedish radio-theatre series called The Fears of the Ice, about one of the first polar expeditions.
Her 2004 album, The World Is Saved, continues the path set on This Is..., but presents a more realised sound and acknowledges her earlier jazz influences more.
In addition to being a musician, Nordenstam also works in other fields, such as photography and music-video directing.
Slightly reclusive, she gives very few interviews, rarely performs live and even alters her appearance using wigs and make-up for album covers and magazines. During the promotion for The World Is Saved, however, she gave more interviews than usual, and even talked about the possibility of future live performances.
In 2006, Nordenstam appeared on Snow Borne Sorrow, an album by the band Nine Horses, singing duets with the band's vocalist, David Sylvian.
Parliament Square
Stina Nordenstam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No this is just for today
I'm running from London pollution
Still cold from the rain
These are not perfect conditions
No this is far from ideal
This is a downcast position
It may be silent
But I hear bombs fall
I hear sirens
Down in Whitehall
I see fires around you Paul
But you stand so still
And you look so small
And I'm so tired
Of no help at all
You've been missing for weeks now
You never go far from the site
They won't ask when you show up
They're paid and polite
It may be silent
But I hear bombs fall
I hear sirens
Down in Whitehall
I see fires around you Paul
And you need a drink
Our eyes are glowing
It might be too late
There's no way of knowing
This is no final solution
No this is just for today
I'm running from London pollution
Still cold from the rain
Stina Nordenstam's song, "Parliament Square," evokes a sense of desperation and despair in its lyrics, speaking to the political turmoil and hardship of the world. The line, "This is no final solution, no this is just for today," is particularly striking, suggesting that the singer's problems are ongoing and no easy resolution is available. The use of the first-person perspective helps to create an intimate, personal tone, as if the singer is speaking directly to the listener.
The imagery of the lyrics is potent as well, as the singer describes their fleeing of "London pollution" and feeling "cold from the rain." The chaotic sounds of sirens and bombs create an atmosphere of danger and urgency. The reference to Whitehall, the home of British government, adds a political element to the song as well. The repeated refrain of "But you stand so still, and you look so small" communicates feelings of powerlessness in the face of larger societal forces.
The lyrics suggest a sense of alienation from society and government, as the missing person in the song's narrative never receives help because those around them are "paid and polite." This sense of isolation is further emphasized by the closing lines, as the singer runs away from the pollution and rain, still seeking some form of escape from their troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
This is no final solution
The current situation is not permanent
No this is just for today
The situation is temporary and only for today
I'm running from London pollution
Trying to get away from the pollution in London
Still cold from the rain
The cold rain has caused her to still feel cold
These are not perfect conditions
The situation is not ideal
No this is far from ideal
The situation is quite bad
This is a downcast position
Feeling down and defeated
At least it is real
The current situation is not fabricated
It may be silent
Even though it's quiet
But I hear bombs fall
There's a sense of impending doom, despite the quiet
I hear sirens
Emergency sirens can be heard
Down in Whitehall
The location where political decisions are made
I see fires around you Paul
There are fires (literal or metaphorical) surrounding someone named Paul
But you stand so still
Paul seems unfazed by the chaos around him
And you look so small
Paul appears insignificant
And I'm so tired
The situation is exhausting
Of no help at all
No one is helping to resolve the situation
You've been missing for weeks now
Someone has been absent for a few weeks now
You never go far from the site
The person usually stays near the same location
They won't ask when you show up
No one will question your absence
They're paid and polite
The people around don't seem to genuinely care
And you need a drink
The person is in need of a beverage
Our eyes are glowing
There's a sense of intensity
It might be too late
The situation could be beyond fixing
There's no way of knowing
There's uncertainty about what will happen next
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STINA NORDENSTAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@piedrasverdes
there is something about the guitar in stina's songs that haunts me, it's one of my deep pleasures (not secret though) to hear her with headphones, trying to grasp every little sound - i always find new things in her songs, so raw and heartfelt, specially in this album. i suggest you try to get the japanese cd of this if you don't have it already. she definitely is a great talent for me!
@MultiNatla
Yes! I totally agree with the comment saying Stina's guitarwork is insanely detailed. Also, not only on this album - Dynamite is a miracle too. E. g. listen to Mary Bell's guitar notes. It's insanely buried in layers and so damn rewarding to hear every little note on repeated listens.
@jari1232
amo a esta mujer y sus letras!!!
@princessdaleeee
i can't stop listening to this. this is amazing, she's amazing. i can't believe I just discovered her a few months ago!
@escehaeroen
Kocham ją, ją i tylko ją ! I love Her, Her and only Her! It's amazing! She's amazing! That's a amazing song! Steku masz u mniem flachem :]
@jansimon934
this song is absolutly awsome...greeting from Prague :)
@faydong
my favorite one from stina nordenstam!
@user-bv3nd6ce2v
this is my favourite of her songs
@johnjensen7518
Great in so many ways :-)
@pinkyclossy22
de lo mejor de "This is Stina" no pensé encontrarlo aqui! =)